The Blazers Fall to No. 16 Memphis in AAC Title Game

Sunday, March 16

Fort Worth, Texas

2:15 p.m.

UAB

22-12,13-5AAC

Memphis

29-5,16-2AAC

UAB

Memphis

Photo by: Mario Terrana

The Blazers Fall to No. 16 Memphis in AAC Title Game

3/16/2025 7:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FORT WORTH – UAB men's basketball (22-12) fell to No. 18 Memphis (29-5) on Sunday in the American Conference Championship game by a score of 84-72.

The Blazers struggled to make shots against the Tigers as only two players were able to reach double figures.

Memphis took an early 14-9 lead at the 13:45 mark, but an 8-0 run by the Blazers after back-to-back threes from Efrem "Butta" Johnson and Yaxel Lendeborg put UAB ahead. The Tigers responded right back with seven-straight points to regain the lead at 21-17.

From that point, it was a back-and-forth battle in the first half. Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first half, combining for 15.

Tyren Moore knocked down a three to put the Blazers up by five points with 2:16 to go, but the Tigers were able to cut it to 35-32 at the break.

After UAB scored the first bucket of the second half, Memphis went on a 7-0 run to jump ahead on a Colby Rogers three. After the Blazers retook the lead, another 8-0 run put Memphis up 47-41 with 15:28 left. From that point on, the Tigers led the rest of the way.

UAB got within a possession on multiple occasions but could not get over the hump.

UAB struggled to stop the trio of PJ Haggerty, Dain Dainja and Colby Rogers. The Tigers opened up their lead to double-digits for the first time after Dainja went coast-to-coast for a layup.

The Blazers were unable to amount a comeback in the final minutes, falling 84-72 to the Tigers.

NOTES

Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds and four assists for his 23^rd double-double of the season, tied for most in the nation.
He surpassed his single-season program record for rebounds in a single season, reaching 375 on the year.
Efrem "Butta" Johnson finished with 17 points, six rebounds and three steals.
UAB grabbed only six defensive rebounds in the second half while shooting only 11-for-38 from the field.
Memphis shot over 50 percent from the field in the second half, outscoring UAB 52-37.

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